Will drug admission stop Rob Ford from attending the Winter Classic in Michigan?

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford intends to be at the NHL Winter Classic in Michigan.

The Toronto Sunis reporting that Ford will attend the January 1st outdoor extravaganza -- which will feature the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings — on his own dime.

But, according to a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, Ford could be denied entry into the United states even though he hasn't been formally charged with any offence.

"His public admission of illegal drug use could be enough to prevent him from admission by US border officials," Michael Niren, an expert in both Canadian and U.S. immigration issues, told Yahoo Canada News.

"[U.S.] Immigration is very strict when it comes to offences considered as "Crimes of Moral Turpitude" or CMTs. And illegal drug use squarely falls into that category.

"If Ford is denied entry he will likely be required to apply for a US Waiver which could take months. There is however discretion for border officials to "parole" him on humanitarian grounds but that happens usually only in extreme cases. Not sure the Winter Classic event would cut it."

Niren contends that Ford could have even a tougher time because his high profile — thanks to all the Rob Ford coverage on American talk shows, border guards are going to know who he is so could be more inclined to ask him about his past drug use.